October 2008

1. My favorite food seasoning is Salsa. 2. My children's laughter is music to my ears.3. Lucky is the person who married me (LOL).4. My workouts are something I take very seriously.5. Many people like Halloween.6. Candleholders was the last thing I bought at the store.7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trick or treating with the kiddos, tomorrow my plans include swimming and running in the morning, then a football game in the afternoon and lastly a movie with my friend Laurie and Sunday, I want to eat something yummy!

One of the very first things I learned to make when I was married was bread. I love to eat bread. Back in Mexico, as a child, I remember my Abuelita sending me to buy bread from the local bakery. It was always around the same time, 7pm. I will get a little basket and head down the mountain to buy bread from the nearest bakery. She knew that sending me will cost her one or two conchas, but she still sent me. Opening the door to the bakery sent my mouth watering and the moment I touched one of the conchitas, I knew that I had to eat one. As the baker was filling up my order, I was filling up my tummy! On the way up to the house, I would eat another one. By the time I got home, I was satisfied and I didn't want supper anymore. Grandma always shook her head and Grandpa will just laugh. Bread has always been close to my heart, I could stop eating lots of stuff, but I could never stop eating bread. I love it. It makes me smile. It brings back many cherished memories.

Now as an adult, I hope to make memories for my kids when I make bread. I hope that when they grow older and they smell the bread baking that it will take them back to their childhood and the time we spent together.

Let's make bread together, here is the recipe, you are going to give it about 3 hours of your time, but you can definitely do stuff in between. You can run errands while it is rising and even while it bakes, you can be doing some chores. It takes a long time, but it is definitely not difficult to make.

Grandma Phelps Bread Recipe:

You are going to need the following:

3 Tablespoons of Yeast

2 Tablespoons of Salt

2/3 cup of sugar

1 cup of vegetable oil

8 cups of warm water (not too hot, not too cold)

About 20 cups of white flour

Yields: 8 loaves of bread

Baked at: 350 F degrees

I have an old fashioned bread mixer. I love it. My Father-in-Law gave it to me as a wedding present and it is one of my most cherised items in my kitchen. You can often find them at garage sales or on eBay. It is great to have around as it run on the only energy power that is for sure to be around in a catastrophe--your own hand power. If you do not have one of these, simply get a big bowl or a clean bucket (buy one just for this purpose).

1. Pour 4 cups of water in the mixer (great big bowl), 3 tablespoons of yeast. Let it form. It will be foamy and the water will look a bit brownish.

3. Add the flour, a few cups at a time and mix. The last few cups you add the mixing is going to be a little difficult, put some muscle into it. The dough should not be sticky and shiny. Once all the 20 cups have been added. Let it sit and rest for about 1 hour. The dough should double in size.

4. Spray the pans with oil (I use Pam). Oil your hands (I use vegatable oil), you will need to oil your hands after every other loaf. If you do not oil your hands, the dough will stick to your hands. Grab some dough, about two fists worth and form it into an elongated ball, folding it down into a nice oval. Place it in the pan. Do the other ones. If you find it easier, you can divide all the dough into 8 balls and then shape it.

5. Let it rise in the pans for another hour or until it doubles in size.

6. Bake it at 350F for about 40 minutes or until tops are golden.

7. Take them out of the pans immediately so the bottom doesn't get soggy. Let them cool off on the counter, place a linen under them so it absorbs the moisture.

Enjoy!

I freeze some of the loaves and take them out as needed. It only takes about 1/2 day for them to thaw. Make a batch and you have bread for about 1 or 2 weeks.

Have little ones? Make it fun for them and get some little loaf pans and they can help make it too. They can make their own little loaves! My little ones love to make their little loaves of bread.

Non-conformist, Visionary, and Independent

Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of what may appear to others as visual realities. Western had been underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. It allowed the progressive thinking artists to show a different side to the world around them. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a 'new kind of art' which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. Abstract artists created art that was diverse and reflected the social and intellectual turmoil in all areas of Western culture.

People that chose abstract art as their preferred artform tend to be visionsaries. They see things in the world around them and in people that others may miss because they look beyond what is visual only with the eye. They rely on their inner thoughts and feelings in dealing with the world around them instead of on what they are told they should think and feel. They feel freed from the tendancy to be bound by traditional thought and experiences. They look more toward their own ideas and experiences than what they are told by their religious upbringing or from scientific evidence. They tend to like to prove theories themselves instead of relying on the insight or ideas of others. They are not bound by common and mundane, but like to travel and have new experiences. They value intelligence, but they also enjoy a challenge. They can be rather argumentative when they are being forced or feel as if they are being forced to conform.

Every year, North Logan puts a nice activity for the families: a pumpkin walk. People, most of them children, from the neighborhoods get together and set up fun displays using pumpkins. I love taking the kids to it and every year I drag them out just so that we can see the creativity of the children in our valley. This year, the theme was heroes and we enjoyed seeing all the creations. They had some dedicated to firefighters, doctors, Indiana Jones, Kun Fu Panda, and even one for our latest hero, Michael Phelps. The kids got a kick of seeing our last name at the Walk. Here are some fun pictures of the day....their favorite character is by far little Yoda :).

The biggest laugh of the day was when we got to this last showpiece. Have a terrific weekend! Over the weekend, I'll make the bread recipe and post the pictures and recipe.

When Mom comes back, she finds....a kid with a hurt neck. The Cause: jumping on the new trampoline at the neighbors. Every touch makes him hurt and shed tears. Is it broken? Is it more than just a pulled muscle? Don't know. Again, bang my head against the wall--I should have gone into Medicine not Business Administration with a focus in Marketing, waste of a degree!

The entire night the poor kid cries and cries. Next morning take him to the doctor to rule out a broken something. Good news: it is only a pulled muscle, nothing that a little valium can't make feel better...or at least forget!!! My kid is only 6 and he is on drugs! I haven't even taken valium and I am 30 something!!! Poor little one.

Lesson of the day: trampolines are dangerous, but they already forgot about the incident and they are planning their next trip to the neighbors...probably when I am at work again!

That's all for now, maybe tomorrow I'll post about my little imp's adventure with the scissors...ay!!!

Today marks my 31st year in this world!!! Happy birthday to me. Today, I am very grateful that I don't have a nasty cold anymore (just a runny nose). I am grateful for a wonderful family, with a husband who loves me and appreciates me despite my short-comings (I don't like to cook, I don't like to do dishes, and I don't do windows, nor bathrooms--please don't ask what I do like to do, hahaha, poor guy!). I am also grateful for my two little treasures--little Nyah and Bryant. They are my life. As I get older, the only thing I notice is that they are growing, little Nyah is big, Bryant is almost my height (alright, so I am short!). I am very blessed.

Last year, when I turned 30, I wanted to make some changes in my life and I did them. Today, marks the one year since I got my driver's license. It has been one of the greatest things I have done for myself. I have freedom that I didn't use to have. Also, due to me getting my license, I was able to start going to the gym. Today, marks 1 year since I started going to the gym at least 3 times a week, and I have missed only three weeks due to illness but other than that, I have gone and loved every minute of it. I am very happy with the changes that I see in my body. Career-wise, I haven't done anything spectacular, but I do have my little part-time job and I am grateful for that and the experience is providing me.

Overall, I am in a very happy moment of my life. I enjoy who I am becoming and I look forward to who I will become. This next year's goals are simple: love my children and help them know that they are loved and appreciated, let hubby know that he is the best hubby in the world (because it is the truth), bike at least three centuries, run a marathon and a few halves, do a few tri's, and possibly do a relay for Lotoja. Sounds easy enough...lol.

Happy birthday to me :). Thank you Mom for bringing me into this world and for giving me a chance to experience life.

Pictures: Little booties I am making for a special little niece who will be coming at the beginning of next year. I am planning on making lots more. Pattern I am following is the Saartje Booties. If you have little bits of Koigu sock yarn left over, contact me, I am interested in purchasing little bits to make little booties.

Side note: If you have a little button like the pink rosette (on the variegated booties) let me know, I purchased these a long time ago at Joann's and I went yesterday to pick up more and they didn't have them, so I will either have to change the buttons or find 1 more button. Silly me, I should have waited to put them on until I had found the 4th!

You see this beauty of a quilt? It is going to be given away to a lucky contest winner. Go and enter to win. You have until 7pm, Oct. 17th. It is lovely! If I knew how to sew and I had an ounce of sewing talent, I would get this pattern in a heart beat, but alas, I am a complete dufus when it comes to sewing.

Go, go and enter the contest and win this beautiful quilt. It so reminds me of a summer's day--it will definitely brighten someone's home in this upcoming winter.

This project is in the section of 8 hrs or more projects in the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book and for good reason. Although the pattern is super simple, it took me forever to fnish it. I think the whole repetitiveness of the stitch pattern made it dull and I just couldn't pick it up for more than a few minutes at a time. This weekend however, I was home, sick. I couldn't handle anything too complicated and this scarf was the ticket. I believe I knitted half the scarf from Friday til Sunday.

Although it has been one of my longest projects, I am in love. I love the colors. I love the softness. I love the way the stitch pattern looks. The ondulating effect at the ends is also one of my favorites! In three words: I love it!

I can't wait to wear it outside...all the time! I'll try to grab hubby so he can take a picture of me wearing the lovelyness!

We are going to start a new family tradition. Saturdays seem to be a little empty, we run around doing chores, getting the food shopping done and at the end of the day, we sit down and watch a little TV. Not anymore. Every Saturday, we are going to bake bread and make cinnamon rolls. Grandma Phelps gave us her trusty bread recipe and we have used it many times and I want to pass it along to my children. My hubby knew how to make bread when we got married, but I didn't. He taught me. I remember my FIL suggesting I learn, I always figured that it was for my hubby's sake, but now, I realize that he suggested so I could bake bread for my children. I love my FIL. He is always full of wisdom.

The recipe makes 5 loaves of bread, which I just happen to manage to make 4 big loaves and 8 tiny ones and 3 small batches of cinnamon rolls. How do I manage that? No idea, but it just happens. The process is long, but the product is so rewarding. My children get to help me, little Benny helped me this time and she made all 8 mini-loaves. Then the two little ones helped me make the Cinnamon rolls.

Goof up of the day: we forgot the Cinnamon. Last time we made them we used white sugar instead of brown, this time I was so focus on the brown sugar that I forgot to put the Cinnamon. I want to blame it on this sucky cold that I have, but I am afraid that I just completely spaced it. Despite my Cinnamon-less Cinnamon rolls, the family enjoyed them...kids and frosting. I think they will eat anything that was covered with frosting!! I should try it next time on spinach.

Building memories together is one of my goals...a little time together gives us yummy warm bread that can last us the entire week, as well as many memories together.

If anyone is interested in the recipe, drop me a note and I'll take step-by-step pics next week when we make our bread. The recipe is super easy and if I can make it, it's a sign that it is fool proof ;).

And did you see the latest Vogue Knitting magazine...knitted bangles! We were so on top of things with our issue of LKC Magazine! Loom Knit your bangles too! I love the argyle bangle that the model is wearing...so neat! Must knit one up.

For the past few weeks, I have been on the hunt for an inexpensive Halloween wreath but after hitting TJMaxx for a few weeks, I didn't have any luck and I wasn't willing to fork out what they were asking for a "leafy wreath". That's when I found Just A Girl blog and this post on her Extreme Makeover. I couldn't help myself but try it out.

First I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a wreath for $1.50.

Then, I spray painted it black. Added a little bit of poly fill to mimick spider webs (I didn't have anything else on hand and I wanted to make it the cheapest way I could. I told hubby that maybe I should just go around the house scrapping all the "real" spider webs off the ceiling corners, but he laughed at that idea!).

Then the kids helped me put a few little spiders on the painted, spidered webbed wreath. The spiders are made out of foam and had a sticky back so they were fairly easy to stick on.

To hang it up from the door knocker, I added some black ribbon.

Final product:

Approximate cost: $2.50!!

And I love it! If I find the correct spidery web stuff, it will look even better, but for now, I am happy. :)

No need to look too long, here are two more. These were in the Summer issue of LKC and now they are in the Archive issue but you can get them here, free, or by visiting Decor Accents and going through the FREE Pattern section there.

First up, we have the Schooner Socks. They were done on an Extra Fine Gauge sock loom but you can adapt the pattern to any loom that has a 4-stitch peg count. It can even be done on the Round Blue KK loom, or even the new Wonder Sock Loom!

Next, we have the easy-peasy Stripey Goodness hat. A little hat that is easy to make, yet it has a flat top for a little bit of challenge. The hat was done on a Fine Gauge loom but you can adapt it and loom it on any other gauge loom as long as you use the yarn specified for that loom.

They are done! I really had to hussle to finish the second sock in one day. Truth be told, I didn't start the second sock til after dinner yesterday. It was around 7pm went I picked it up and started it. 11pm rolled around and I finally was grafting the toe. Unfortunately, Miss Diva was already asleep so she didn't get to see them, so I guess in her eyes, I didn't fulfill my promise of finishing them for her in one day since her day finished before mine.

They are super cute and the colorful pom-poms make them irresistible. I have enough yarn left over for a couple of more pairs...but I am thinking maybe I should make her some matching mitts. I don't know what else I will do with the remaining yarn, but whatever it becomes it will be colourful and irresistible.

Pattern will be forthcoming soon! Pattern is for the looms but I will translate it for the needles. I did a test swatch and the Wonder Sock Loom tension gauge on needles was achieved with size 1 dpns by Crystal Palace.

Is it vintage because of the yarn or because it has Pom Poms? I finished a sock...I finished a sock! Isn't it cute!!!! I love the yarn--Yarntini self-striping in Vintage. Loooove it! I remember growing up my Mom sent me a few pairs of socks to Mexico, they all had Pom Poms! I loved them. The socks themselves were all white but the Pom Poms in each pair were a different color and they looked smashing with my Converse sneakers (which she also sent me from the States). That was about 22 years ago, but I still have a fascination for socks with Pom Poms.

The Yarntini Vintage yarn called to be made into Pom Pom socks. I envisioned a cute roll down cuff and a colorful pom-pom at the back plus all the goodness of the beautiful self-stripes. I am a little too old to wear Pom Poms but thankfully, I have little tykes around who go crazy for the Pom Poms too (must run in the family)!

These socks are destined for Teddy Bear, she already tried this one on and walked around the house a bit. I had to force her to give it back while I make the other. She gave me one day to finish the other....tough boss! So tonight, I have my work cut out for me, I will have to sit down and loom non-stop until the second Poms is done.

The sock was loom knitted on the new Wonder Sock loom. Want a FREE Wonder Sock Loom of your very own, check out the details at the DA blog!

A couple of my wonderful loomy test knitters have finished testing out my garble aka design. Here are a few pictures. This one was loom knitted by Jeannette. She took a picture of the crown and the seaming detail (click the picture to enlarge).